Editor’s note: The following story was submitted for the Shaler Area Student Section, a collaboration between TribLive and The Oracle, the student newspaper of Shaler Area High School.
Shaler Area High School’s National Honor Society raised $3,300 this year through the Pennies for Patients fundraiser benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, now known as Blood Cancer United.
Through leadership, organization and schoolwide participation, students and staff proved that small donations can make a big impact.
“Opportunities to donate and give are out there, but this fundraiser puts it right in front of students and their families to donate easily,” NHS Induction Chair Kaylee Graf said. “Coins and small dollar bills are often carried by students and seem like such a small amount of money, but added up by a school of 1,200 makes a lot of money we can donate.”
The fundraiser also highlighted what leadership truly looks like.
“Leadership isn’t just the big person up talking in front of the crowd — it’s the people who make it happen behind the scenes,” NHS President Alexis Frisbee said.
She emphasized that the students who donated are leaders, too.
“The students who donated and took action to help someone else are just as much leaders as the NHS members. This highlighted how a school community can come together for something bigger than themselves,” Frisbee said.
NHS members demonstrated responsibility and dedication throughout the process.
“Getting to school on time and being able to sound excited and encouraging shows their responsibility in this fundraiser,” Graf said.
Members also gave up study halls and lunches to roll and count thousands of coins.
“It takes the society as a whole to make this happen,” Graf said, pointing to the NHS pillars of scholarship, service, leadership and character.
Treasurer Bella Hoffman explained why even small donations matter.
“It is a way for everyone to get involved even if you don’t have a lot to give. Any small amount adds up,” she said.
She hopes students take away one key message: “When everyone works together, a huge impact can be made in the community. It doesn’t fall on one person, but rather the entire student and staff body.”
While one of the biggest challenges was motivating students who may not feel personally connected to leukemia or lymphoma, Bella said NHS members worked hard to encourage participation.
“We really had to push kids to donate any money they were willing to give,” she said.
Friendly competition — including breakfast for the winning class — helped increase excitement.
The winning class, led by teacher Bill Mitchell, was especially driven.
“I shared a story about how I’ve known people who’ve been affected by leukemia and lymphoma,” Mitchell said. “I had a personal connection to it.”
Once a few students began contributing, he noticed “a snowball effect” in the classroom.
“Once two or three students brought in a few dollars, it motivated others,” he said.
He hopes students learned that “there are things in life that are always bigger than the individual” and that “sometimes it’s a great thing to put others ahead of yourself.”
In addition to student efforts, staff members also made a significant impact. Teacher Doug Kepreos generously donated $700 on his own setting an example of generosity for the entire school community.
Eric Schott’s class also was recognized for its donations, which meant a lot to him.
“My dad was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in December so I’ve seen firsthand all that goes into trying to help treat those who get these diseases,” he said.
“I threw in more money than I ever had because it’s part of my life now, but to see kids donating without that personal connection is really cool and heart warming.”
Overall, the fundraiser showed the strength of Shaler Area High School community.
“This fundraiser shows how our school comes together in times of need. All money given is a selfless act from the students and staff, and it truly shows that if we all work together, we can make a huge difference,” Hoffman said.